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Prison authorities could be forced to release convicted killer Bailey Junior Kurariki within weeks if he is recalled to jail as a result of allegations that he breached parole by smoking cannabis.
Kurariki - who in 2001, at the age of 13, became the country's youngest killer - was arrested last week after his probation officer made a formal complaint based on suspicion he was using drugs.
Kurariki is likely to remain behind bars until a Parole Board hearing in two to three weeks.
However, a Parole Board spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that he will come to the end of his seven-year sentence by mid-September and will have to be released.
The nature of his arrest last week has sparked complaints from one prison campaigner, who likened it to the arrest of one of the "FBI's most wanted" rather than a response to someone suspected of smoking cannabis.
"The family reported a helicopter hovering overhead and counted between 30 and 40 policemen in the street," Prison Fellowship national director Kim Workman said.
Allegations of Kurariki's drug use were said to have followed a routine check at his South Auckland home.
But the police response on Friday suggested otherwise, Mr Workman said.
"If this version of events is correct, then the police must have evidence of substantial wrongdoing.
"They have behaved as though they were dealing with one of the FBI's 10 most wanted - an unusual response for someone suspected of smoking pot."
Kurariki - who was at home with his sister and father - was immediately arrested, taken to the Auckland remand prison and tested for drugs.
Police did not enter the house, Mr Workman said. "They [family] were astounded that though Bailey was immediately arrested, the house was not searched for drugs."
The 19-year-old will appear before the Parole Board next month to assess his progress.
Counties Manukau police spokeswoman Denise Traill said reports that up to 40 police officers were used to make the arrest were wrong - "that is the number of police we have working on homicides". She could not confirm if the police Eagle helicopter was used, but said it often supported staff on the ground in similar cases.
